Baba Baye Kemit, M.Ed
Baye Kemit is a committed educator who has dedicated is life towards developing Black children. Born to John and Janice Caldwell, Baye grew up in Trenton’s Wilbur Section and attended Trenton Public Schools, K-8 (P. J. Hill and Junior High School #2). He attended and graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1991. He is married to Makeda Kemit and they together have 6 children.
Baye sought higher education at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. It was there that Baye groomed his affinity for African history, culture and pride, hence his name change to Baye Kemit. In addition to demonstrating an intense conviction towards reclaiming his African heritage, and acquiring knowledge within his major, Baye was also a member of CAU’s Student Government Association, Resident Assistant, Campus Tour Guide and a member of the Forensics Society Debate team. In 1994, he became a member of KMT Asen, Inc, an African brotherhood founded in the Atlanta University Complex (AUC). He graduated in 1996 with a degree in History Education, and, in 2002, Baye received his Master’s degree in Education Administration from Temple University. Through his matriculation at Clark Atlanta University and Temple University, Baye was thoroughly prepared to achieve his lifelong goal: to properly and effectively educate African American children in this country.
In 2003, Baye founded The Garvey School, an independent African-centered high school and, in 2007, expanded the institution to include Egun Omode Shule (children of the ancestors school), which is preschool to 8th grade. Baye currently operates the shule with his wife Makeda. The Garvey School/Egun Omode Shule is the only fully comprehensive (K-12) African-centered school in the state of NJ. In 2010, the expanded again to include Watoto Village, a full-time daycare that operates in the same building.
Also in 2010, Egun Omode African dance and drum collective was formed, and the Kemit’s have dedicated their time managing and promoting cultural arts in the city of Trenton. Since 2012, Egun Omode performed 5 productions. The performing arts collective have traveled to Newark, Philadelphia, Richmond, and Atlanta.
In 2006, Baye was the recipient of the Dorothy V. Palmer award for “Excellence in Education” named in honor of Mayor Douglass H. Palmer’s mother. He has been honored by numerous organizations. Baye is the current national co-facilitator of the Council of Independent Black Institutions (CIBI), a national consortium of Independent Black Schools, manager of Egun Omode performing arts collective, Capoeira-Angola martial artist, lecturer, and he sponsors yearly tours to Ghana, West Africa. Baye spends most of his spare time as a volunteer basketball coach.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Baye Kemit, Ed.M
The Garvey School / Egun Omode
102 Taylor St. Trenton, NJ 08638
Email: bayekmt@gmail.com
Cell: 609-792-9038